JOHN "R" DEVELOPED A CULT LIKE FOLLOWING ON WLAC NASHVILLE

John R, born in Manning, SC, attained fame in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s as one of the original four caucasian DJs (along with Gene Nobles, Herman Grizzard and Bill “Hoss” Allen) playing rhythm and blues music at night on WLAC/Nashville. Later rock music DJs such as Alan Freed, Wolfman Jack, and others mimicked John R's practice of using speech that simulated African-American street language of the mid-twentieth century. After a year at WTMA, Charleston, SC, in 1942 John R moved to WLAC/Nashville as a newsman. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Navy and, upon discharge, returned to Nashville and was invited back to his old job. When Gene Nobles took an extended vacation in the late 1940s, he filled in and followed Nobles' lead in playing African American artists primarily heard on specialty juke boxes artists who performed what John R later termed "cornfield" blues music. He was also a notable record producer and artist manager and recording studio operator and, like the other WLAC DJs, developed a near-cult following for his live commercials for a wide range of products such as baby chicks, family Bibles, hot-rod mufflers and tunes from Ernie’s Record Mart. John R stepped down from WLAC on July 28, 1973, after some 28 cumulative years of association with the station. 

JOHN RICHBOURG...A RADIO LEGEND IN NASHVILLE.

Comments

[Sharon Carter]

I was in nursing school in the early 60's and my roommate and I would listen to John R every night.

[richard jennings]

i can still hear john r voice im 72 now he was great talking bout goodys record store very unique voice rip richard jennings

[Geraldine Barksdale]

I am 77, born in axton Virginia and my music was and still is the blues. I despise rap, I loved music when you knew who the artist was and the blues had a way of making you feel good and at times feel bad. JOHN R WAS THE MAN. THERE WERE YEARS WHEN I DID NOT KNOW HE WAS WHITE, BUT IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE, HE WAS PLAYING MY MUSIC. my memory leaves a lot to be be desired but I will remember hey John R, what you gonna do, hey JOHN R play me some rhythm and blues. JOHN R’S VOICE WAS THE ONE I LIKED.

[David Sims]

I too had my first taste of Blues music through WLAC My Mom and Dad mad e the mistake of giving me a transistor radio for Christmas back in the late 50s. They were early bedtime folks and late nite radio did not awaken them...Listen to John R, Gene Nobles, Hoss Allen before i really understood some of their jokes....when i got older i did. Still love the Blues...mix it up from time to time with Jazz and other genres. But WLAC and a group of guys who enjoyed their jobs immensely make up a big piece of my coming of age time.

[Bob Mehok]

I listened to John R on my Crystal Radio I clipped to my metal bed frame were I discovered Blues and Soul Music not heard in Akron in those days. It could pickup the John R show loud and clear and my mom didn't know I was awake on a school night 😉 . . . John R - Love you man

[Peter Solly]

Ahh yes , the good old days.
As another white guy living just east of Toronto I spent the early and mid 1950 repairing, redesigning and bulding 5 tube super het radios looking for the perfect signal from WLAC every evening.
Just had to have that good old rock and roll music.
Going to the Zanzibar tavern in Buffalo was the only place to go and see these great performers.
Mustn't forget George"HOUND DOG"Lorenz from WYNE

[Carl L. Simmons]

I was a poor black boy from Pawleys Island SC. NO ELECTRICITY, NO TV, John R was a precious piece of my life.

[Wayne Howell Toronto Canada]

As a white Canadian kid, I started high school in 1959. I am eternally grateful that the only music played at our school dances was R&B. We were a bit of a cult who travelled to Buffalo NY to buy records that weren't available in Canada by artists like Ike & Tina Turner, The Ojays, "The Crying" James Brown, Maxine Brown, Erma and Aretha Franklin, and so many others. I had a crappy little portable radio in 1962-64 that would bring in WLAC after sunset, I found it by accident and quickly told my friends about this incredible station whose commercials were for hair straighteners and skin lighteners as well as the great "3 for $2 Specials". I'll never forget sending in for the Five Blind Boys Special, But the ultimate joy was the first time I heard "Pain in my Heart" by Otis. We called all of the record shops in Toronto and the response was Otis who? We finally got a copy on Stax Volt mailed from a friend's aunt in Fla. Bless you John R., you improved my young life. Wayne, Toronto.

[.john wingate]

I loved to listen to John R on Sunday nights, however,I also remember other strong signal stations that were easily picked up down in southeast Georgia. There was WOWO, Fort Wayne, Indiana. WLS, Chicago. WBT, Charlotte. Also a station out of New Orleans. For some strange reason that station 750 out of Atlanta didn't carry well in our area. The daytime favorite was WAPE "BIG APE" 690 out of Jacksonville. All the small stations in our rural area went off the air at sunset. The three tv stations went off air at midnight. I always had my turn table to spin the vinyl when all else failed.